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nov 04 2026The Movistar Arena hosted one of the great matchups of EuroLeague Matchday 10. Real Madrid welcomed Panathinaikos, one of the competition's most powerful teams, in a clash between two title contenders. The hosts arrived in great form with nine consecutive victories and a 6-3 record, while the Greek side landed in the capital with a 7-2 mark. The arena drew a solid crowd, though not at full capacity.
Pedro Martínez's team faced a demanding test, further hampered by numerous absences: Maledon, Deck, Campazzo, and JR Smith among the Real Madrid injuries. Despite this, Real Madrid sought to extend their winning streak against a Panathinaikos side with plenty of arguments to test the hosts. The matchup also held special significance for Valencia Basket fans, with Brancou Badio and Jaime Pradilla facing off, both with history at the orange club.
Walter Tavares won the opening tip, but it was Mitoglou who opened the scoring with a three-pointer. Luwawu-Cabarrot scored the first Real Madrid basket for 2-3. Panathinaikos quickly took control of the game, imposing a high pace and finding good shooting opportunities against a Real Madrid side feeling the impact of injuries. The Greeks showed great efficiency in their early possessions and controlled the quarter, though Sergio Llull appeared with a spectacular three-pointer at the buzzer to cut the deficit. Sylvain Francisco, with eight points, was the standout player of the first quarter (18-24).
The second quarter began with Panathinaikos maintaining the initiative. A three-pointer from Guerschon Yabusele, a former Real Madrid player, extended the lead to 15 points (23-38), forcing the hosts to react. Andrés Feliz responded from beyond the arc and Real Madrid began finding better rhythm. With five minutes left until halftime, the hosts had already cut the deficit to eleven points, prompting Obradovic to call timeout.
The Greek side began accumulating turnovers and offensive mistakes, while Real Madrid capitalized on the momentum to get back into the game. In one of the final timeouts, Obradovic showed his frustration with Sylvain Francisco over the turnovers, despite the eight points he had scored to that point. Real Madrid's comeback was rewarded with a great basket from Alberto Abalde at the buzzer, leaving the score just three points apart. Andrés Feliz, with ten points, was the game's leading scorer at halftime (48-51).
The second half opened with a three-pointer from Brancou Badio to restore some calm to Panathinaikos. However, Real Madrid was not willing to let the game slip away. The hosts grew stronger as the minutes passed and, after several good offensive possessions, found themselves just two points down (61-63). Gabriele Procida then appeared to tie the game at 63, prompting another Obradovic timeout. The Greek side was going through moments of offensive confusion and the hosts, despite their numerous absences, were competing on equal terms against one of the competition's major favorites.
The Movistar Arena began to believe in the comeback when Procida hit a three-pointer that put Real Madrid ahead for the first time (66-65). Panathinaikos reacted and regained the lead, though without opening up significant separation. Damian Jones found a valuable outside basket to keep the hosts in the fight, and Alberto Abalde appeared again at the buzzer with another three-pointer, leaving the game wide open for the final ten minutes (73-74).
The fourth quarter began with a three-pointer from Panathinaikos to make it 73-77. Real Madrid needed to maintain the pressure and found an important opportunity after a flagrant foul was called on the Greek side. The hosts capitalized to get within one point (81-82), with possession in their favor. Abalde converted two free throws to restore the tie (82-82), in a moment of maximum tension in the stands. The game had entered a dynamic of constant exchanges and each possession was becoming enormously valuable.
Tavares appeared to put Real Madrid up three (87-84) with five minutes remaining. The white team seemed to have found the way, but Panathinaikos responded again. Kendrick Nunn scored a spectacular 2+1 against Llull's defense to tie it at 87. Shortly after, Mitoglou gave the visitors the lead (87-91), forcing Pedro Martínez to call timeout with 3:50 remaining.
Alberto Abalde stepped up again and, with another 2+1, brought the hosts within one at 90-91 with 2:42 left. But then Kendrick Nunn took over. The American scored a spectacular 3+1 that gave Panathinaikos the initiative back (90-95) and raised his personal total to 27 points. The visiting point guard was being decisive at the most critical moment of the game and would still have time to add another two-point basket.
Real Madrid did not give up. Damian Jones hit a three-pointer to make it 95-97 with one minute remaining, in a Movistar Arena completely invested in the game. Procida, from the free throw line, managed to tie it at 99 with just 15.5 seconds left. Panathinaikos had the final possession and Real Madrid fouled Nunn on a shot attempt, who converted both free throws to make it 99-101. With 7.2 seconds and the last chance in their hands, the hosts needed to score to stay alive. Andrés Feliz took responsibility and hit the basket that sent the game to overtime. A spectacular finish to a fourth quarter of maximum tension (101-101).
Overtime maintained the level of excitement. Feliz scored the first basket of the extra period and Sylvain Francisco responded to tie it at 103. Tavares gave Real Madrid the lead again (105-103), but Panathinaikos reacted and took the lead (105-106) with two minutes remaining. It was then that Mathias Lessort produced one of the night's best plays: a buzzer-beater possession basket followed by an additional free throw, making it 105-109 and giving the visitors breathing room.
The Greek side managed the final moments better and found in Nunn their great offensive reference. The American finished with an extraordinary performance of 33 points, leading a Panathinaikos side that knew how to resist Real Madrid's push and take away a victory of enormous value in the Spanish capital. Real Madrid fought until the end, came back from a significant deficit, and forced overtime despite their numerous absences, but ultimately fell to their opponent's individual talent and composure (112-115).
The result marks one of the great nights of EuroLeague so far. Two top-tier teams delivered a spectacle of runs, comebacks, and decisive moments, with a final quarter and overtime that lived up to expectations. Panathinaikos leaves the Movistar Arena with a prestigious victory, while Real Madrid sees their winning streak halted after taking the game to the limit.
